Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Whole-Mount Staining, Visualization, and Analysis of Fungiform, Circumvallate, and Palate Taste Buds
Published on: February 11, 2021
FXYD6, a Na,K-ATPase regulator, is expressed in type II taste cells
Yoichiro Shindo1, Kana Morishita, Eiichi Kotake
1Research Laboratories for Health and Gustatory Science, Asahi Breweries, Ltd., Midori, Moriya, Japan.
Abstract:
Taste buds contain three types of taste cells. Each type can respond to taste stimulation, and type II and III taste cells are electrically excitable. However, there are differences between the properties of type II and III taste cells. In this study, we found that Fxyd6, an Na,K-ATPase regulator gene, is expressed in type II taste cells in the taste buds of mice. Double-labeled in situ hybridization analysis showed that Fxyd6 was coexpressed with transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 5 (Trpm5), a critical component of the sweet, bitter, and umami taste signal transduction pathways and that it was specifically expressed in type II taste cells. We also found that taste cells frequently coexpressed Fxyd6 and Na,K-ATPase β1. These results indicate the presence of an inherent mechanism that regulated transmembrane Na(+) dynamics in type II taste cells.
Related Concept Videos
ATP Driven Pumps III: V-type Pumps
The peripheral or cytosolic V1 domain with eight subunits is involved in ATP hydrolysis. The integral or transmembrane V0 domain containing at least five subunits...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...
The Physiology of Taste
ATP Driven Pumps II: P-type Pumps
A typical P-type pump has three cytosolic domains: nucleotide-binding (N), phosphorylation (P), and activator (A) domains. These domains are connected to the membrane-spanning helices by short amino acid segments. ATP hydrolysis and covalent phosphoenzyme intermediate formation are crucial parts of the catalytic cycle. At the highly...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

